PHF to counter efforts to get Pakistan banned

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan will fight its case against a possible ban or any other punitive action as the questionnaire sent by the International Hockey Federation (FIH) ahead of its Executive Board meeting was dealt with accordingly, Brig (rtd) Khalid Sajjad Khokhar told reporters here on Monday.

Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) president dispelled the impression that the country was facing an international ban following its failure to honour the signed commitments to compete in the Pro League. “The FIH has recently sent us a questionnaire which we replied to according to ground realities. We hope and expect that the FIH Governing Board that meets on March 15-16 will not consider any punitive action. We will fight our case with all might,” he said.

Khokhar said when Pakistan signed commitments of playing Pro League, the federation had resources at its disposal. “Sadly that was not the case when the team actually was about to leave for Argentina to start the first leg of the league. We will fight our case in the FIH Board meeting,” he said.

The PHF president again complained of the government’s failure to financially support the federation. “For the last 15 months, we have not received any grant from the federal government. The 100 million rupees that was given by Sindh government was diverted towards paying the debt the federation owed. At the moment we just have around Rs10 million in our kitty,” he said.

When ‘The News’ asked the PHF president if he was going to resign in protest against the government, Khokhar said he would not bow under pressure. “You are right. The game of hockey will be the ultimate sufferer. But I will not resign under any pressure. At the moment I have no intention to resign. Some forces are bent upon seeing me leave the federation. No one has the powers to force me to resign,” he said.

He said everyone’s effort should be to see the game of hockey regaining its lost glory. “I admit with open mind that hockey is struggling in the country because of no apparent system to groom and nourish talent. “I would definitely welcome all the suggestions to help the game stand on its feet. We have no finances and no required infrastructure in the federation’s possession. The PHF owns no hockey stadium, which makes it difficult for it to implement its own programme. The government has yet to fulfill its commitments to lay artificial turfs it promised,” said Khokhar. He said the Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) always created hurdles in hockey promotion. “We even found it difficult to have board and lodging arrangement for players at the Pakistan Sports Complex vicinity,” he added.

The PHF president suggested that the government invest in hockey through the Ministry of IPC. “We are to give the government the plan,” he added.